How Animals Play

This concise introduction to ethology, the study of animal behavior, outlines the history of animal-play research and the surprising fact that “scientists have not yet come up with a definition [of play] that everyone accepts.” It also describes the myriad behaviors that make up play and discusses what studying play reveals about animal cognition. For example, play helps animals develop useful skills that impact both reproduction and social order. The book teaches basic scientific concepts, such as the uses and limitations of anecdotal evidence. A discussion of how scientists could determine whether or not dinosaurs played will engage readers’ imaginations, and striking, full-color photographs add visual appeal. Back matter includes a glossary, book and Web site suggestions for further learning, a bibliography, and an index.